Month: March 2017

When my alarm goes off before 6:00 a.m., I’m usually not happy. I’m disoriented and probably still tired. But I put my feet on the floor and drag myself out of bed. That’s the first step. Add a little caffeine and… ta da! excited, happy morning person.

People are often surprised to hear that I wake up early to run or go to the gym before work. I’m not sure why though — there are plenty of people that do the same (just ask all of my morning gym BFFS) ((jk, I don’t talk to them)). It might seem crazy to non-morning people, but to me — it’s the best time of the day.

The peaceful morning quiet is one of my favorite things. No one else is up — just me. And while, most days, I’d rather slip back into bed and sleep for an extra 2-3 hours, I’m always happy that I didn’t. On days when I do let myself sleep in and not work out, I find myself feeling less energized when I get to work.

I started working out in the early mornings my senior year of college. I had three jobs and a full time class schedule, but that wasn’t going to stop me from exercising. I vowed to go to bed early and get to the gym right when it opened — and it stuck.

I don’t know how people commit to an after-work fitness routine. By the time I’m done with work for the day, all I want to do is eat dinner and collapse on a couch for the night. But to each their own.

And that’s just the thing. You don’t have to be a morning workout person — but you CAN. It’s very possible and great. It helps you start your day on a positive note. You get to wake up, rock out to music or a podcast and reflect on life — all before 8 a.m.!

MindBodyGreen has a great article on steps to become a morning workout person, but I have a few more to add:

Prepare your clothes, food, bags you’ll need to take to work, etc. the night before. Your morning routine will go much more smoothly if you prepare the night before. Plus, you’ll get to sleep for that extra 15-30 minutes. All you have to do is jump out of bed, change and go.

Music, music, music. I’m all about the Spotify playlists. I listen to upbeat jams on my drive to the gym to get in the sweating mood.

Be strict about your bedtime. This one is tough, but it’s the most important. Getting enough sleep is what will help you stick with your morning workout routine. Find a bedtime that works for you and stick to it — your body will thank you!

My sister recently outlined her feelings on this subject in a blog post. Check it out here.